Can nuclear technology and human connection go hand in hand? Indonesian researcher Dhita Ariyanti believes they can. Reflecting on her InteRussia fellowship, held from November to December 2025, she shares stories of scientific discovery, joint projects, and the beauty of a Russian winter.
– Why did you decide to apply to this programme?
– I decided to apply because I believed it would improve my skills, as the programme includes specific courses, classes, and training related to nuclear technology, especially in the nuclear energy sector.
– Had you ever been to Russia before your fellowship?
– No, not yet. I hadn't been to Russia before this programme.
– Did you have any expectations or fears before going to Russia?
– I had some expectations, and I think they were realised. Russia turned out to be a very beautiful country with very humble people. And in this programme, I received training content about nuclear technology from experts, I believe, from Rosatom, that was really interesting.
– How was the programme organised?
– I think the committee, the team, organised everything very well. They gave us information and guidance about what we needed during winter in Russia, so it was very informative. This was actually my second winter experience as before Russia, I went to Italy. This second winter, in Russia, was very beautiful.
– What event left the biggest impression on you?
– The biggest impression on me during the fellowship was in the last week, in Obninsk, because it was related to my background of study. It was about nuclear applications – nuclear technology in many sectors, like agriculture, food preservation, and the effects of radiation on materials.
– Did you work on any research project during your fellowship? If so, could you tell us more about it?
Yes, during the fellowship in 2025, we started a research project together with my friends from Nigeria, Uzbekistan and Pakistan who were also on the programme.
The research focuses on the effects of irradiation on materials, for example, creating a biodosimeter using polymer material, irradiating it with a gamma or electron-photon beam, and then characterizing and testing the material's performance. This work is still ongoing, and in 2026 we submitted a paper for publication in Springer Nature.
– Are you still in touch with anyone from the programme?
– Yes, I'm still in close contact with the people I met during the fellowship, especially fellow alumni, including my colleagues from Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Nigeria, since we all share the same background in nuclear technology and have a lot to talk about.
– Have you been to Russia since your fellowship?
– Yes, I went again this year, in June 2026, for the III Obninsk Tech Summer Nuclear University. I think it's the biggest event of its kind for Obninsk, because they have many speakers from abroad. This was my first time attending, and I found it very impressive.
– And what would you say to someone who is thinking about applying to the fellowship? Would you recommend it?
– Yes, I would definitely recommend it. My advice would be to be patient and hope for the best because, after you apply, you have to wait. They'll send you an email and then you have to go through an interview process. But you'll meet lots of kind people and make new friends as a result. It's definitely an unforgettable moment.
– How would you describe the fellowship to someone who had never heard about it in one sentence?
– Science made good world, but science and humanity made better world.
– Why did you decide to apply to this programme?
– I decided to apply because I believed it would improve my skills, as the programme includes specific courses, classes, and training related to nuclear technology, especially in the nuclear energy sector.
– Had you ever been to Russia before your fellowship?
– No, not yet. I hadn't been to Russia before this programme.
– Did you have any expectations or fears before going to Russia?
– I had some expectations, and I think they were realised. Russia turned out to be a very beautiful country with very humble people. And in this programme, I received training content about nuclear technology from experts, I believe, from Rosatom, that was really interesting.
– How was the programme organised?
– I think the committee, the team, organised everything very well. They gave us information and guidance about what we needed during winter in Russia, so it was very informative. This was actually my second winter experience as before Russia, I went to Italy. This second winter, in Russia, was very beautiful.
– What event left the biggest impression on you?
– The biggest impression on me during the fellowship was in the last week, in Obninsk, because it was related to my background of study. It was about nuclear applications – nuclear technology in many sectors, like agriculture, food preservation, and the effects of radiation on materials.
– Did you work on any research project during your fellowship? If so, could you tell us more about it?
Yes, during the fellowship in 2025, we started a research project together with my friends from Nigeria, Uzbekistan and Pakistan who were also on the programme.
The research focuses on the effects of irradiation on materials, for example, creating a biodosimeter using polymer material, irradiating it with a gamma or electron-photon beam, and then characterizing and testing the material's performance. This work is still ongoing, and in 2026 we submitted a paper for publication in Springer Nature.
– Are you still in touch with anyone from the programme?
– Yes, I'm still in close contact with the people I met during the fellowship, especially fellow alumni, including my colleagues from Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Nigeria, since we all share the same background in nuclear technology and have a lot to talk about.
– Have you been to Russia since your fellowship?
– Yes, I went again this year, in June 2026, for the III Obninsk Tech Summer Nuclear University. I think it's the biggest event of its kind for Obninsk, because they have many speakers from abroad. This was my first time attending, and I found it very impressive.
– And what would you say to someone who is thinking about applying to the fellowship? Would you recommend it?
– Yes, I would definitely recommend it. My advice would be to be patient and hope for the best because, after you apply, you have to wait. They'll send you an email and then you have to go through an interview process. But you'll meet lots of kind people and make new friends as a result. It's definitely an unforgettable moment.
– How would you describe the fellowship to someone who had never heard about it in one sentence?
– Science made good world, but science and humanity made better world.
